So, here is Willard at the start of another Adventure! And what better place to start any adventure than the Club lounge at the Sheraton Skyline - where Willard is now a well known guest! And let us introduce WIllardKeeper the new Flyertalk handle that Pat has chosen to assume.

And every time Willard ends up at the Skyline, he always seems to end up in the Sports Bar, nursing a lager, and waiting for a Burger - so we start the careful acclimatisation of the stomach lining that we now know needs to proceed any Flyertalk DO!

So, after an early night (and we don't expect to see another one of those for a few days!) we travel into Central London and arrive at our Hotel. Since we could not yet check into the Meridien Piccadilly (it was only 11:30!) Willard has changed into more appropriate attire and is taking high tea with Pat (sorry, WillardKeeper) in the lounge, whilst we re-arrange our luggage and get ready to brave the weekend tube traffic to the Embankment.

The area around the Embankment was very busy, as, not only was this the 11th November, but it was also the day of the Lord Mayors parade, and the immediate area around the Temple Pier. Whilst we wait to board our river boat, Willard takes the opporunity to inspect the troops in the parade.

Willard makes it onto the boat, and finds his favoured place from which to observe the proceedings. He was very impressed by the fact that the organisers have seen fit to provide him with his very own (Willard-sized) badge for the occasion!